There's Something Out There....

We all know that the universe is expanding, but a recent study has revealed evidence of a different movement - a movement at a steady speed in one direction. This indicates that there is something, well, pulling on our universe. But what?

It might be another universe, which would mean that our universe is just one bubble afloat in a sea of universes - one part of a multiverse. Pretty cool, huh? As a philosopher I love it, since a multiverse might mean that, with modification, the possible worlds theory of modality that has given metaphysics, philosophy of langauge, and epistemology so much to work with might be concretely realized.

But nothing is certain yet. This result still needs to be confirmed by other scientists. And even if it is, that doesn't necessarily mean that what's pulling on our universe is another universe. It could be... um... something else.

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Wow...

just....wow.

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Oh, how close we are.

Chimps have a better memory than you do.

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Abiogenesis

Abiogenesis in 10 minutes... with some great music!

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Understand DNA in 10 Minutes

DonExodus2 is one of my favorite YouTube educators. He's just posted a video explaining the basics of DNA which I found so informative that I just had to post it. So, here it is:

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Quick and Dirty

More proof abstinence-only education doesn't work.

Creationists keep asking for evidence of evolution. Well, on top of all of this, now there is this.

And Priests plagiarizing sermons. Is it really that hard? The book's already been written for you!

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Oh How Close We Are

Images of an Orangutan attempting to hunt fish by using a stick as a spear. Hmmm... we're so far above them, are we?

If you watch Orangutan Island, as I do (my two favorite reality shows don't involve people at all), you've already things very similar to this (although not exactly this - this is the diamond on the crown, so far). You've also seen Orangutans like this one laughing, playing, sharing, and slowly developing a social structure. These primates are typically solitary, but since their habitat is being destroyed, they are attempting to get these rescued Orangutans to form a society, which would make it possible for them to live in a smaller range.

This is just one more bit of evidence that we need to recognize that we humans in our great "rationality" are not as superior as so many think we are (I'm talking to you, Kantians, Pragmatists and fundagelicals). We need to recognize that these amazing and beautiful creatures deserve respect.

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Science Marches Onward

And we all benefit. I have not the words to describe this incredible breakthrough. You'll have to watch for yourself. Warning, there are some graphic images.


Link

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Meet the Missing Links

Creationists often complain about the lack of transitional fossils. They claim that evolution has been disproven because we haven't found the fossils that would verify the theory. Blah, blah, blah. Well, since I'm so sick of hearing it... and since Ben Stein's IDiotic movie will be coming out soon, I thought I would compile some of my favorite youtube videos laying out the fossil record. Some are more science intensive than others, and there is some overlap between them. And, of course, there is no way the whole fossil record could be documented by a couple of youtube videos (as a matter of fact, I'm missing early mammal to our primate ancestors in this video compilation). But have fun... you're guaranteed to learn something watching these!

We have the fossils. We win!


In the beginning....

(The link to this video)

And then the earth was peopled with fish and reptiles and mammals and the great whale...


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But where did we come from? Glad you asked....


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Many thanks to somecomputergeek, KennyTew2 and DonExodus2 for these awesome videos!

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Why do atheists care about religion?

So, while I was meandering around YouTube (rather than doing the grading I ought to be doing... I'll go back to it in a sec. Promise) I discovered this great video explaining why atheists care about religion (with Pantera playing in the background. Nice!) I thought I would share it. You can find it below the fold.

I often get asked why, as an atheist, I care about religion, or why I spend so much time talking about god. Well, I care about religion for much the same reasons the youtuber who made the video cares. Religion has a detrimental impact on my life and the lives of others. And I spend so much time talking about whether god exists or not because almost all religions (particularly the most harmful ones) are based around a deity. Do away with the deity, do away with the religion.

The number one reason that I spend so much time and effort talking about religion and god, though, is that religious belief and theism are based on the same thing - faith. Faith is a bad epistemic method. And continuing to accept it in our society is damaging in more ways than one. Not only does it breed religious belief, but it also leads people to accept spurious claims - to rely on woo, waste time searching for ghosts, and to reject the opponents of faith. Opponents that have brought us so much good (and, yes, in the wrong hands, some bad - but way more good). I talk about religion and god because I support reason and evidence. Because I support science, and because I see the foundation of religion and theism -faith - as antithetical to these pursuits.

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David vs Goliath's Whole Family

Perhaps the title is in poor taste, but a new theory about the cause of the dinosaurs' demise made me think of the biblical story. According to this theory, insects may have been responsible for the slow extinction of the dinosaurs after the initial cataclysmic event. They may be little, but they can pack a serious punch!

Of course, I can hear the creationists (ahem, IDists) now... "the insects abounded because of the flood!"

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